Faithful Futures Project Lead Karen Roberts describes Faithful Futures as an opportunity for the church community to celebrate ministry that is already underway. It’s also a call to step with purpose into new possibilities for ministry and mission in local contexts over the next five years, guided by five shared goals.
“Faithful Futures is particularly pertinent as we approach the 50th anniversary of the Uniting Church in Australia, reflecting on the history of how the Church came into being and discerning its future shape and mission,” Karen said.
“I’m pleased to report that the Faithful Futures Steering Committee has already met four times this year.”
Rev Isabel Greenall chairs the Steering Committee and is joined by a member appointed by each presbytery and two members from the Synod Ministries and Operations executive team. (Over the next few issues of Crosslight, you’ll meet the Steering Committee members.)
The Steering Committee is spending deliberate time exploring each of the five shared goals in detail, identifying the starting points for goal-focussed groups who will dive deeper.
“This next phase brings an opportunity for you to get involved with Faithful Futures,” Karen said.
“We are delighted to invite people to submit Expressions of Interest joining a goal-focussed group. They’ll be helping to shape the future ministry and mission of the church in Victoria and Tasmania.”
Group members will work together to identify how congregations and presbyteries might be supported to implement the goals in ways that are discerned to be best for the local context.
Terms of Reference for each of the goal-focussed groups are in process.
“Please look at the Terms of Reference and have a think about how you might make a contribution,” Karen said. “We’re keen that the goal-focussed groups will be made up of people with diversity of experience and a passion for discerning and living the ways of Jesus in the contemporary world.”
“Faithful Futures is particularly pertinent as we approach the 50th anniversary of the Uniting Church in Australia,” says Project Lead Karen Roberts.
Should I express my interest? Who are we looking for? We want to hear from you!
These are some examples to get you thinking about your gifts and skills:
- You might be a regular church attendee who has a passion for deepening intercultural connection in worship, witness and service.
- You might have a loose connection with a church community and work as a history or geography teacher with some ideas about how to help others explore and tell some of the histories of Country in collaboration with First Nation’s people.
- You might have recently had a positive experience of joining with other congregations in your regional area to respond to a particular missional need and this has inspired you to help other faith communities to do the same.
- Or, you might know somebody in your family or community who you think could contribute to one of the goal areas. Please encourage them to get in touch!
- Please note that you don’t need previous experience on a church committee to get involved.
Karen explains that Faithful Futures is the work of the whole church. “It’s about all of us opening ourselves to respond to the movement of the Spirit as we look towards the future with hope.”
“Putting your hand up to participate in a goal group or support one of these goal areas might also be an opportunity for you to grow in your own discipleship journey.”
If you have questions about how you might get involved, please email us at Futures email: FaithfulFutures@victas.uca.org.au or you can call Karen on 03 9116 1472.
Click here to read more about Faithful Futures.
“Faithful Futures builds on where we have been, takes into account our contemporary world, and gives us shared goals to shape our direction as a church,” says Rev Isabel Greenall.
Rev Isabel Greenall
Isabel is the Chair of the Faithful Futures Steering Committee. With experience of both congregational and presbytery ministry, Isabel currently works as a Spiritual Care Coordinator with Barwon Health in Geelong.
“I think it is fantastic that at the last Synod meeting, members agreed to five Faithful Futures goals for us all to work on in our presbyteries and the Synod. For me, it means that we have permission to give solid focus to these and, in time, potentially see the benefits of working together on these areas of focus across different parts of the life of the church in Victoria and Tasmania.”
“All of my life the Uniting Church has been changing as it has sought to be faithful to the ways of Jesus in the present day. Faithful Futures builds on where we have been, takes into account our contemporary world, and gives us shared goals to shape our direction as a Church. Why wouldn’t you get involved?”
“Faithful Futures now invites all people across the Church into that shared journey of prayer, imagination and participation,” says Rev Chris Rowney.
Rev Chris Rowney
Chris has been appointed by the Presbytery of Gippsland to be a member of the Faithful Futures Steering Committee. He is currently working as a Presbytery Resource Minister, and brings interdenominational experience to the Steering Committee having previously provided leadership within the Church of Christ and Baptist traditions.
When asked how people across the church can be involved in Faithful Futures, Chris says: “The strategic direction has been discerned, but the journey is still to be taken. Faithful Futures now invites all people across the Church into that shared journey of prayer, imagination and participation. There are likely to be many different ways that can take us from here into our Faithful Future. Some ways may be familiar, but some are trails yet to be blazed. That will only happen as people take up the invitation to help shape the kind of church we hope to become together.”
“Come and connect with others who share that same sense of purpose so you can journey, collaborate and learn together,” says Bronwyn Ballesty.
Bronwyn Ballesty
Bronwyn is the appointed member on the Steering Committee from the Presbytery of Western Victoria. She is currently working as the presbytery’s Administration and Finance Manager.
Bronwyn reflects on why people across the life of the church should be involved in Faithful Futures: “Jesus’ teachings often emphasise a vibrant, purpose-filled life, encouraging His followers to live with deep joy, active service, and spiritual passion rather than passive existence. Come and connect with others who share that same sense of purpose so you can journey, collaborate and learn together.”
You will meet other members of the Faithful Futures Steering Committee over future editions of Crosslight.
Faithful Futures website
